Description

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book addresses the topic of soil’s physical properties and processes with particular reference to agricultural, hydrological, and environmental applications. The book is written to enable undergraduate and graduate students to understand soil’s physical, mechanical, and hydrological properties, and develop theoretical and practical skills to address issues related to sustainable management of soil and water resources. Sustainable use of soil and water resources cannot be achieved unless soil’s physical conditions or quality is maintained at a satisfactory level. Fertilizer alone or in conjunction with improved crop varieties and measures to control pests and diseases will not preserve productivity if soil’s physical conditions are not above the threshold level, or if significant deterioration of physical conditions occur. Sustainability is jeopardized when soil’s physical quality is degraded, which has a variety of consequences. The process of decline in soil’s physical quality is set in motion by deterioration of soil structure: an increase in bulk density, a decline in the percentage and strength of aggregates, a decrease in macroporosity and pore continuity, or both. An important ramification of decline in soil structural stability is formation of a surface seal or crust with an attendant decrease in the water infiltration rate and an increase in surface runoff and erosion. Above and beyond the effects on plant growth, soil’s physical properties and processes also have a strong impact on the environment. Non-point source pollution is caused by surface runoff, erosion, and drainage effluent from agricultural fields. Wind erosion has a drastic adverse impact on air quality. The emphasis in this textbook is placed on understanding the impact of the physical properties and processes of soil on agricultural and forestry production, sustainable use of soil and water resources for a range of functions of interest to humans. Sustainable use of natural resources is the basic, underlying theme throughout the book. This book is of interest to students of soil physics with majors in soil science, agricultural hydrology, agricultural engineering, civil engineering, climatology, and topics of environmental sciences. There are several unique features of this book, which are important in helping students understand the basic concepts. Important among these are the following: (i) each chapter is amply illustrated by graphs, data tables, and easy to follow equations or mathematical functions, (ii) use of mathematical functions is illustrated by practical examples, (iii) some processes and practical techniques are explained by illustrations. This textbook incorporates comments and suggestions of students from around the world. The book is intended to explain basic concepts of soil physics in a simplified manner rather than an exhaustive treatise on the most current literature available on the topics addressed. It draws heavily on material, data, graphs, and tables from many sources.

CONTENT

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Dr. S. C. MEENA presently Professor and Head in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. He did his M.Sc.  in Soil Science in 1999 from RAU, Bikaner and Ph. D. Soil Science from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology, Udaipur. He started his career as a Junior Soil Scientist, Main Center on Cropping System Research (MCCSR), UAS, Dharwad (Karnataka) June, 2003 and served their for three years.

He has been actively involved in research, teaching and extension activities in the field of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry and He devoted his beginning period of service in MCCSR, dealing with Integrated Nutrient Management Experiments in maize and different vegetables crops in Vertisols. He has joined as a Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) at KVK, Jhalawar in 2006 and conducted so many trainings; FLD’s Kisan Melas, Exhibitions Radio talk, TV talk by which farmers were benefited to enhance the crop productivity and there improved the socio-economic status in farming community.

Dr. Meena is Principal Investigator of AICRP on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment Project along with CO-PI of ICAR and RKVY projects. He teaching UG, PG and Ph.D. students. He has published more than 55 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, 03 Books, 02 book chapters, 80 popular articles, 04 practical manuals for UG students. He guided 6 Ph.D. and 7 M.Sc. students as major advisor and 55 students as minor advisor and presently 2 M.Sc. and 5 Ph.D. students under his guidance.

Prof. L. L. SOMANI is Retired Director Resident Instructions, MPUAT, Udaipur. He has over 400 research and technical articles to his credit. He has authored/edited over 18 dozen scholarly books in various fields of agriculture. Prof. Somani has been honored with several academic excellence awards for his outstanding achievements.